Focus Features has released a red band movie trailer for Burn After Reading. Written and directed by The Coen Brothers, this new dark-spy comedy stars Academy Award nominee John Malkovich as an ousted CIA official, whose memoir accidentally falls into the hands of two unwise gym employees (Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand) intent on exploiting their find. Also featuring George Clooney, Tilda Swinton and Richard Jenkins. It looks like the Coens have hit another home run. Could Burn after Reading be to No Country for Old Men what The Big Lebowski was to Fargo? As long as its not another Ladykillers, I’ll be happy. Watch the trailer below and tell me what you think in the comments!

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If you’re a moviegoer who doesn’t generally dislike George Clooney but reacts to movie news about him like an allergic reaction to salt-and-peppered dander, you’ll want to make an exception here. The actor is set to star in an adaptation of Jon Ronson‘s book, Men Who Stare at Goats, a wily nonfiction account of the U.S. army’s history of dabbling in the supernatural that leads up to the current quagmire in Iraq. Here’s a synopsis from Amazon…

“As Ronson reveals, a secret wing of the U.S. military called First Earth Battalion was created in 1979 with the purpose of creating “Warrior Monks,” soldiers capable of walking through walls, becoming invisible, reading minds and even killing a goat simply by staring at it. …But Ronson soon learns that the Battalion’s bizarre ideas inspired some alarming torture techniques being used in the present-day War on Terror. One technique involves subjecting prisoners to 24 hours of Barney the Purple Dinosaur’s song, “I Love You,” and another makes use of the Predator, a small, toy-like object designed by military martial arts master Pete Brusso that can inflict a large amount of pain in many different ways…”

Cool subject matter almost lending itself to a Coens-esque romp, no? The film will be directed by multitasker Grant Heslov, a partner in Clooney’s Smoke House imprint, with a script by Peter Straughan (the upcoming adaptation of Toby Young’s How to Win Friends and Alienate People). After the prototypically classy Michael Clayton and Leatherheads, it’s time Clooney put on a nappy wig and went a little batshit like Nic Cage in Raising Arizona or Tom Hanks in Cast Away. Between this project, foregoing too much current event storyline, and September’s dark and quirky Burn After Reading, it would seem he’s headed on a similarly looney, and successful, trajectory.

Our fellow War Machines at FirstShowing just nabbed a small crop of new images from Joel and Ethan Coen‘s follow-up to their Best Picture winning No Country For Old Me, Burn After Reading. Lots of comical mouth-breathing going on here, and it’s nice to see Brad Pitt in a role that recalls Floyd from True Romance with the addition of yoga, a shower, ProActiv and highlights. Add to the mix John Malkovich, George Clooney, Francis McDormand and Tilda Swinton, and expectations could not be any higher for the bros’ signature dark comedy opening this September.

What’s it about?: Malkovich stars as a former CIA agent with a soon-to-be ex wife (Winton) who steals a CD containing his memoirs and government secrets. Two gym employees/plebes (Pitt, McDormand) steal the CD and attempt to make a profit, leading the CIA to unleash Clooney (whose character is also a complete doof according to the actor) to clean up the mess. Good to see Malkovich back to facing off with Hollywood’s uppercrust and having some fun in a high profile flick.

Discuss: The next Raising Arizona or The Ladykillers? Is Clooney better suited for comedy or dramas or Coen Bros movies?

Eagle Eye was a hot property from day one, originating as an idea/story from legendary director Steven Spielberg. Directed by D.J. Caruso, re-teaming with Disturbia star Shia LaBeouf (Transformers), and set for a much coveted early August release date. But something has happened…

Maybe the film is running behind schedule. Or quite possibly, maybe they are afraid of the Judd Apatow-produced stoner comedy Pineapple Express? I’m sure the studio might explain that this is just a last minute addition to the major schedule reshuffle announced last week. Whatever the reason, Dreamworks has moved the film from its prime August real estate to late September. And while this move might seem like normal business to most casual movie fans, I believe something major is behind this decision.

Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want, but the facts show that a move from August to September is a major loss. It just doesn’t make sense. The average big Hollywood movie in August opens twice as big as a big Hollywood release in September. This could mean the difference between a $35-40 million to a $20-$25 million opening weekend. Are there technical problems or has the studio suddenly lost faith in the film’s earning potential?

Eagle Eye will now open on September 26th 2008, up against The Coen Brother’s Burn After Reading starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney, and the Paul W.S. Anderson remake of Death Race starring Jason Statham.

Update: Someone working on the film claims that production is behind schedule and they have 2-3 weeks of shooting left.